Agaru (Aquilaria Agallocha) Benefits, Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Agaru benefits in asthma, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Its external application improves skin glow, reduces joint inflammation and burning pain, and kills lice and other parasites. It stimulates hair growth, prevents skin diseases, and improves appetite. It is also used for the treatment of intestinal worms, bad breath (halitosis), loss of appetite, and intestinal gas. Moreover, it also provides benefits in cardiac weakness, persistent hiccups, enuresis, chyluria (chylous urine), fever with chills, and diseases of male reproductive system.

Don’t Confuse: The aromatic resinous wood of Agaru is different from Agar-agar. However, both are known with same name, Agar. Both are obtained from different sources. Agar is Hindi name for Agaru. Agaru is obtained from species of Aquilaria genus. It belongs to Malvaceae family. Agar-agar is obtained from red algae.

The internal intake has heating effects, but its external application has cooling effects.

Therapeutic Indications

Agaru is indicated in following health conditions.

Bronchitis

Asthma

Wounds

Intestinal worms

Bad breath (halitosis)

Loss of appetite

Intestinal gas

Cardiac weakness

Bradycardia (abnormally slow heartbeat)

Gout

Rheumatism

Persistent hiccups

Enuresis

Chyluria (chylous urine)

Fever with chills

Loss of libido in men

Leucorrhoea

High blood pressure

Spasms

Anxiety

Depression

Body odor

Diarrhea

Dysentery

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

Agaru provides strength to stomach, intestines, lungs & airways, heart, liver, brain and sense organs. It reduces joint inflammation, so beneficial in gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Its appetizer and carminative actions help to reduce abdominal diseases. It is a nervine stimulant and can also be used in cases of paralysis.

Bronchitis

Agaru reduces inflammation and irritation of bronchial tubes. It also helps to thin the thickened mucus, which helps to clear the lungs. It is beneficial in both acute and chronic bronchitis.

Asthma

Agaru powder (500 mg) along with honey or Agaru oil drops (1 to 2 drops) along with betel leaf is helpful in the treatment of asthma.

Persistent Hiccup

Agaru powder (500 mg) along with honey should be taken 4 – 5 times a day for treating persistent hiccup.

Agaru use in Fever management

Agaru reduces chills, fatigue and increased thirst occurring in fever. It helps to reduce the fever and restores body strength.

In fever, its decoction is useful and effective. Agaru Kwath (decoction) should be prepared with 5 grams Agaru wood powder and 240 ml water, which should be reduced to 60 ml keeping it on low flame.

Alternatively, it can also be used along with Trikatu Churna and Laung (Cloves) as follows:

Protracted Fatigue & Debility after Fever

Agaru along with Giloy, Ashwagandha and Shatavari is an excellent remedy for treating protracted fatigue and debility occurring after fever. This mixture helps to restore the body strength and reduces fatigue, debility, laziness and body aches.

Excessive Thirst

This mixture should be taken with Decoction prepared with 5 grams Munakka (a type of Raisins).

Diarrhea

Agaru has anti-diarrheal properties and antimicrobial action, so it helps to reduce the frequency of loose stools as well as inhibits microbes responsible for the infection.

In ayurveda, it is commonly used along with Ativisha (Aconitum Heterophyllum). Agaru powder and Ativisha powder are mixed in equal proportion and advised to take with buttermilk.

Intestinal Gas, Bloating & Abdominal Distension

Agaru helps to release the intestinal gas. It can be used along with Cumin Seeds (Jeera) and Carom Seeds (Ajwain) for the treatment of intestinal gas, bloating and abdominal distension. This mixture is also helpful for reducing abdominal spasms and pains occurring due to excess gas in the gut.

Loss of Appetite

Agaru increases appetite acting on the stomach and liver. It improves liver functions and stimulates metabolism. It also improves gastric secretions and improves appetite.

In ayurveda, Agaru powder can be used along with Saindhava Lavana and lemon juice (Nimbu Svarasa).

Halitosis – Bad Breath

Gum and oral diseases are a common cause of halitosis in about 80% cases. In such cases, Agaru powder is the best medicine for treating bad breath. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions inhibit microbial growth and reduce inflammation, reduce gum diseases and thus treat halitosis. Secondly, it is an aromatic and fragrant herb, which also helps to reduce bad breath.

In a bad breath, 2-3 small sticks of Agaru should be chewed 2 to 3 times a day for best results.

Bleeding Piles

Agaru powder along with Misri (crystallized sugar lumps) powder is used to treat bleeding piles.

Agaru powder

1 grams

Misri (crystallized sugar lumps) powder

3 grams

Cow’s Ghee

Q.S.

Make a paste of these ingredients using cow’s ghee and eat it twice daily. Warm milk can be taken after eating this Agaru paste.

Chyluria (chylous urine)

The passage of milky appearing white urine is called Chyluria. It occurs due to the presence of chyle in the urine. Chyle is composed of emulsified fat, albumin, and fibrin. In such case, Agaru is a drug of choice in ayurveda and gives awesome results in this case. In this case, Agaru leaves are used for making a decoction and combined with Haritaki Decoction.

Agaru leaf powder or decoction is likely to reduce the excretion of chyle in the urine, but how does it work in this condition is still unknown. It might reduce valvular insufficiency of lymph channels and prevent retrograde flow of lymph to lumbar lymph glands that drain into renal lymphatics.

Agaru leaf powder

3 grams

Haritaki powder

5 grams

Water

240 ml

Both herbs are added in 240 ml water and boiled to reduce 60 ml decoction. It is advised to drink twice daily 2 hours after a meal.

Enuresis (Bedwetting)

Agaru is a nervine tonic and acts on nerves and urinary bladder. It improves nervine control and strengthens urinary bladder to hold the urine produced during the night. It also helps to treat overactive bladder, which is a common cause of the enuresis. Along with Brahmi, Vaividang and Haritaki, Agaru is highly efficacious to reduce the frequency if bed-wetting. Chandraprabha Vati can be added for an additional support to this treatment for enuresis.

Agaru powder

1 Part

Haritaki powder

1 Part

Brahmi powder

1 Part

Vaividang powder

1 Part

Dosage: 500 mg for children above the age of 5 years and 1000 mg for children above the age of 10 years. This mixture should be given 2 to 3 times a day mixing it with honey.

Numbness & Tingling

Unusual prickling sensations can occur in any part of the body, which indicates disturbances in Vata balance in the body, according to ayurveda. Agaru acts on Vata Dosha and reduces the sensation of numbness and tingling. In such cases, Agaru Churna and dried ginger (Sonth) powder is advised to eat with and Triphala decoction.

Urticaria

Agaru bark powder (2 grams) is advised to taken with 5 ml Cow’s Ghee for the treatment of Urticaria in ayurveda. It has antiallergic and antipruritic actions, which helps to treat urticaria. It also reduces raised itchy bumps and itching associated with urticaria.

Agaru heartwood powder along with coconut oil is also applied to the skin to reduce itching and burning sensation.

Dosage & Administration

The general dosage of Agarwood is as follows.

Children

125 to 500 mg

Adults

500 to 1875 mg

Maximum Possible Dosage

6 grams Per Day (in divided doses) **

Doses: Twice or thrice a day with warm water, honey, cow’s ghee or milk

Best Time to Take: After Food

Types of Agaru

According to ayurveda, Agaru has four types:

DAAHA AGARU: It is available in the Gujarat State of India. It is also called Tail Agaru. It gives a pleasing fragrance for a long period. It is also known for improving hair growth.

KAASHTH AGARU: It is yellowish color Agaru and beneficial in bad breath, vomiting, and neurological disorders.

KRISHNA AGARU: It is used in diseases related to eyes, ears, and skin.

MANGALYA AGARU: It is best for therapeutic purposes. It is obtained from the Himalayan region around KEDARNATH, Uttarakhand. It is heavy and sinks in the water. It is called GARKI AGARU in Unani Medicine.

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Dr. Jagdev Singh (B.A.M.S., M. Sc. in Medicinal Plants) is a Licensed Ayurvedic Practitioner under Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) Act India and Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine, Chandigarh since 2010. He is running his ‘Ayurveda Clinic’ in Rupnagar, Punjab, India.

He has successfully treated thousands of patients with Ayurvedic Medicine and Ayurvedic Diet. Ayur Times is an initiative of his efforts to bring quality information on Indian Medicine with the highest level of relevancy and scientific evidence.